WEST WALES COMPANY EXPANDS WITH UK ACQUISITION

The West Wales-based emergency response and training company DV Howells - a subsidiary of Milford Haven Port Authority - has expanded its UK presence with the acquisition of a specialist business with bases in Falmouth and Huddersfield.

The purchase of Aberdeen-based Ceto Environmental Limited, which went into receivership in January, brings DV Howells Limited extra capacity and expertise in its core markets of oil and chemical emergency incident response services, consultancy services for pollution prevention and training.

The deal means that the jobs of 16 employees will be saved, whilst the two operational bases at Falmouth and Huddersfield will add to DV Howells’ existing presence in Milford Haven, Belfast, Stanstead, Gatwick and Chesterfield.

Receiver Iain Bennet, of PricewaterhouseCoopers, said that whilst Ceto had started up relatively recently, it had made an impact on the market with its chemical response teams at its UK bases and a specialist tank cleaning operation.

“The business should now be able to prosper as part of a larger organisation,” he added.

Simon Rickaby, Managing Director of DV Howells said that the acquisition of Ceto represented an excellent investment.

“DV Howells is at the forefront of knowledge and expertise in responding to water-based pollution incidents around the world, and is increasingly developing into UK land-based response,” he said.

“The expertise that Ceto staff have in this area, coupled with the company’s operational bases, will significantly enhance DV Howells’ capabilities in this profitable market.

“We are confident that the consolidation and growth of the business will ultimately return benefits back to West Wales in terms of increased employment opportunities.”